AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
BETWEEN
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
AND
THE AMERICAN PYROTECHNICS ASSOCIATION

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. OSHA and APA hereby form an Alliance to provide APA members, OSHA personnel, and others, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect
employees' health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing accidents involving the manufacturing, transportation, storage, sale, and handling of commercial display fireworks and consumer fireworks and the use of commercial display fireworks. In developing this Alliance, OSHA and APA recognize that
OSHA's State Plan and Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.

OSHA and APA will work together to achieve the following training and education goals:

Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs on the safe and proper use of commercial display fireworks products. These programs would be delivered to OSHA personnel and other interested parties.

OSHA and APA will work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:

APA will provide expertise to OSHA to develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools and links from
OSHA's and APA's Web sites.

Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA or APA events such as APA's Winter Educational Conference, Fall Annual Meeting, local meetings, or other events.

Promote and encourage APA members' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program.

Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding APA best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by APA and through OSHA- or APA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).

Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects related to fireworks display site safety and other occupational hazards associated with fireworks manufacture, distribution, and retail sales establishments that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.

Encourage APA members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues, including occupational hazards related to fireworks display operators.

OSHA and APA will work together to achieve the following goals related to promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:

Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.

Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on fireworks issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.

OSHA's Alliances provide parties an opportunity to participate in a voluntary cooperative relationship with OSHA for purposes such as training and education, outreach and communication and promoting a national dialogue on workplace safety and health. These Alliances have proved to be valuable tools for both OSHA and its Alliance participants. By entering into an Alliance with a party, OSHA is not endorsing any of that
party's products or services; nor does the Agency enter into an Alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular
party's products or services.

An implementation team made up of representatives of both organizations will meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least quarterly to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. Team members will include representatives of
OSHA's Directorate of Standards and Guidance, Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan
States' and OSHA Consultation Projects' participation on the team.

This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Either OSHA or APA may terminate it for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the concurrence of both signatories.